Looking for a $1000-$1500 XC FS bike.

I am looking at getting a full suspension bike and would like to spend around 1-1.5 grand. I have checked out quite a few but have only ridden them briefly. I have looked into the following, Kona Kikapu, Specialized FSR, Giant NRS, Giant Trance, Jamis Dakar XC, Trek Fuel.

What do you all think about what I have looked at? I would prefer disc brakes and I want somthing that pedals well. Primary use will be around the city but I will not be doing any huge drops, lots of stairs and 3 foot ones though. I will get to the trails at least a few times a month and it will be some agressive singletrack but nothing that super technical.

well a 3 foot drop seems fairly serious, as do stairs, on those bikes atleast. Maybe I don't know what I'm talking about but those bikes aren't really made for stairs or three foot jumps, and are a bit overkill for the city alone. I don't know much about the kona, but I should think the others would be a bit more delicate than what you would need for a three foot drop.
But still, if I were to choose, I would look to the jamis, giant, and specialized.

I'm looking hard at a Giant Trance 3 with perhaps a better fork for my next bike. It seems to have the perfomance profile, specification and price that's right for me. I don't have access to anyone that sells the Kona or Jamis though, so my preference is in comparison to the rest.

[Edit] Btw, I'm coming from an old rigid Trek. alcahueteria, are you really saying that these new FS cross country bikes can't stand up to going down some stairs? They aren't that hard on a bike. Just like going down a bit of a rock garden. These bikes must be weak as if they can't stand up to that?

Any of these bikes are going to withstand pretty much anything you can throw at them. You will break something probably before they do, haha. I favor specialized but Kona also makes a great bike. I ride a Specialized Enduro , and it is an incredible bike.

I am looking at getting a full suspension bike and would like to spend around 1-1.5 grand. I have checked out quite a few but have only ridden them briefly. I have looked into the following, Kona Kikapu, Specialized FSR, Giant NRS, Giant Trance, Jamis Dakar XC, Trek Fuel.

What do you all think about what I have looked at? I would prefer disc brakes and I want somthing that pedals well. Primary use will be around the city but I will not be doing any huge drops, lots of stairs and 3 foot ones though. I will get to the trails at least a few times a month and it will be some agressive singletrack but nothing that super technical.

You can take the NRS off the list as it's suspension design isn't designed for what you want to do

I have a 2003 Jamis Dakar XC, that i have punished. Its my only bike, so i have no choice. 3 footer with nice transition, not to flat, is very possible. I did break the rear triangle (not from hucking), it is known as a weak spot for that frame (not a problem in current Jamis Frames). It was replaced no questions asked. If you want something a little more aggro that will stand up, look at the Jamis XLT, especially if you are thinking of doing urban riding, where most landing are flat. It will be a little heavier than the XC but worth it.

I'd forget the Jamis (too many stories of frame breaks). The Kona will probably take all you can dish out and more but I'd consider upgrading to the Kikapu Dlx (my personal choice and recent purchase).
If climbing is important to you, the Kikapu (or KD) are a great way to go. If the three foot drop is really that important to you, I'd consider something from the Dawg line though you need to realize that it's a heavier duty and tougher climbing bike. My $.02 and I'm a Newb though I based my desicion on opinions of those much more knowledgeable than me.
CPW

I do not really smash on my bikes around town, I said 3 feet as an upper guide line. Lets put it this way I up till now have done all of this on my TREK 4900 hardtail and have yet to brake anything. I have ridden a few 5"+ travel bikes and have disliked the bob under pedaling that I experenced. I really do not do any aggressive urban riding and I am fairly confident that an XC FS bike will suit me nicely. The trails I usually hit are a bunch of uphill riding followed by a fast trip back down. The average trail I see is rutty and rough trail with scattered rocks logs and some light jumps/drops.

Sounds like what i ride. I got a stumpy FSR and it holds up real well in the trails, it can take some of the drops, i havent had much of a problem besides a bolt coming loose. I think it was the new guy at the LBS shops fault anyways...Solid bike for the price, not to bad on weight, and from riding it I think it handles like a dream on the trails, bob is at a minimum with that FSR suspension and the Fox in the rear, Look into them, I would recommend it after what ive been doing..